The Director-General of UNESCO has designated Rio de Janeiro, one of the most visited cities in the Southern hemisphere, as World Book Capital for 2025. The year of celebrations begins on April 23.  It is an annual event organized by UNESCO to promote the importance of reading, in all cultures and in all languages, and to celebrate books, authors, libraries, booksellers, publishers, and copyright. 

This is a significant event that kicks off a year’s worth of celebrations.  In today’s political and technological climate, when books are being challenged in and removed from library shelves; when disinformation and misinformation is on the increase, when social media is increasingly the way many consume information and entertainment, and when AI may be collecting content from copyrighted texts, World Book and Copyright Day serves to reorient us to the irreplaceable value of books and access to them; the creativity of authors who skillfully demonstrate the beauty of words and language and ideas; and the democratizing role of libraries, publishers, and booksellers to insure access to books, while respecting the rights of authors.

The idea originated in 1922 with Vincente Clavel, director of the Cervantes publishing house in Barcelona to honor the Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616), famously known for his novel Don Quixote. It was first held on the writer’s birthday, October 7 and in 1930 moved to his death date,  April 23. In 1995, UNESCO decided to celebrate the event on April 23 because April 23 is also the date of the death of William Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, as well as the birth or death date of several other prominent writers.

The Resolution adopted at the 28th session of the General Council of UNESCO (Paris, 1995) reads, in part:

Considering that historically books have been the most powerful factor in the dissemination of knowledge and the most effective means of preserving it, Considering consequently that all moves to promote their dissemination will serve not only greatly to enlighten all those who have access to them, but also to develop fuller collective awareness of cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire behaviour based on understanding, tolerance, ad dialogue…Adopts the above-mentioned idea and proclaims 23 April of every year “World Book and Copyright Day…¹

UNESCO’s vision quickly expanded beyond a one-day celebration and in partnership with the International Publishers Association (IPA), the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), International Authors Forum (IAF), and the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF), The World Book Capital, begun in 2001, recognized a different city each year and the activities they committed to carrying out in the furtherance of encouraging a culture of reading. The call for applications is open to all cities of UNESCO’s member states and associate members and applications are judged on the basis of the cultural profile of the city and role that literature, books, or storytelling have played in the city’s history and development; the program of activities that the city commits to undertake, and the capacity of the activities to involve public, private and civil operators as well as national, regional, and international professional organizations.  Since 2001, the selected cities have spanned the globe.

Each selected city plans hundreds of events around one or more themes that celebrate the transformative power of books and reading. In 2018, for example, Athens’ theme “Books Everywhere” included eight categories:  Celebrating Reading – Discovering Reading Treasures;  A World of Writers;  Greek Writers;  Athenian Book Itineraries;  Open Collections and Archives;  Educational Activities;  Book and the Arts; and  Contemporary Narratives. The more than 600 planned events and activities were done in cooperation with 212 cultural institutions and reached approximately 450,000 people.²

As a librarian, I have read my share of articles about the decline in students’ reading and their ability to comprehend what they do read, the decrease in the number of independent bookstores and publishers, libraries with no physical books, and the imminent death of books.  And yet, reading and books persist for good reason: 

• Books have the power to connect the past to the present and future and to act as a bridge between generations and cultures. 
• Reading can unite people across the miles, foster imagination that combats feelings of isolation, reduce illiteracy, bring joy to the lives of all readers, and encourage curiosity.   

Connect to that which makes us all human.  Read a book today.

Joan Stahl is Director, Research and Instruction at The Catholic University of America Libraries

References

¹ Larrea, Carlota, and Alexis Weedon. 2007. “Celebrating Book Culture: The Aims and Outcomes of UNESCOs World Book and Copyright Day in Europe.” Publishing Research Quarterly 23 (3): 224–34. doi:10.1007/s12109-007-9015-1.

² World Book Capita Network: Athens

Further Reading

Alex-Nmecha, Juliet C., and Millie N. Horsfall. 2019. “Reading Culture, Benefits, and the Role of libraries in the 21st century.” Library Philosophy and Practice. Gale Academic OneFile (accessed April 21, 2025). 

Frye, Julie Marie, Sarah Carter, Ashley Hosbach, and Leanne Nay. 2020. “Continuing a Love Affair after a Separation: Ways to Promote Books for World Book and Copyright Day.” College & Research Libraries News 81 (10): 502–7. doi:10.5860/crln.81.10.502.

Larrea, Carlota, and Alexis Weedon. 2007. “Celebrating Book Culture: The Aims and Outcomes of UNESCOs World Book and Copyright Day in Europe.” Publishing Research Quarterly 23 (3): 224–34. doi:10.1007/s12109-007-9015-1.